Arms and ammunition handbag



Oct. 17, 1967 v. ALEXANDER 3,347,299

ARMS AND AMMUNITION HANDBAG Filed on. 21, 1965 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. VELDA ALEXANDER BY FIG.2 'Z'ZMVJQV ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,347,299 ARMS AND AMMUNITION HANDBAG Velda Alexander, Visalia, Calif., assignor to Velda Alexander, Lucie Elmira Melvin & Claude Maurice Feaner, all of Visalia, Calif., a partnership Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,624 9 Claims. (Cl. 150-34) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A handbag and an insert adapted to be removably secured therein. The handbag and insert are provided with mutually engageable fastening elements to secure the insert in upright condition Within the bag against sliding or lifting movement relative thereto. A holster is provided on the insert to releasably retain a handgun therein in a position wherein the grip of the handgun is disposed closely adjacent the mouth of the handbag when the insert is secured within the handbag.

The present invention relates to an arms and ammunition handbag and more particularly to a lady peace olficers handbag having an insert adapted to contain her law enforcement and defense instruments.

Conventional handbags used by lady peace ofiicers have telltale characteristics. These characteristics include Wearing of the material and bulges which disclose the existence of the articles carried by lady peace officers. In addition, since the same bag may be carried by a lady peace oflicer for a long period of time, the style of the handbag becomes easy to recognize. These characteristics are extremely undesirable in surveillance work and process serving work.

Conventional lady peace olficers handbags have shoulder straps which attach at both ends of the handbag. Since the articles carried by these handbags are quite heavy, there is considerable force exerted at the end of the handbags. For example, in the preferred embodiment shown here retention means are provided for such items as a pistol, handcuffs, badge, ammunition and an identification card. These articles in the aggregate can be very heavy, thus resulting in the handbag being given a draped effect. In addition, the bottom of the handbag is subjected to considerable force from the articles carried in the handbag.

Conventional handbags for lady peace officers are constructed in such a manner that it is difiicult to position the various articles carried by them within the handbag. Furthermore, when positioned within the handbag, the articles are difficult to conceal from view, particularly when the handbag is open.

An object of the invention is to provide a handbag which does not have telltale characteristics with the previous lady peace ofiicers handbags.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insert for a lady peace officers handbag which can be removed and placed in another handbag. The insert contains appropriate means for holding articles used by lady peace ofiicers. The insert also makes it possible to remove and examine the articles she carries. In addition, she can place the insert in numerous and varied handbags, thus avoiding the telltale characteristics of conventional handbags.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flap on the insert which will conceal articles in the insert when the handbag is opened.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a shoulder strap which passes beneath the bottom of the handbag. This feature furnishes support for the bottom of the handbag and eliminates high stress points where the 3,347,299 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 shoulder strap normally joins the handbag. It also reduces the draping effect.

The detailed structure and operation of the invention and the foregoing and other objects will be more apparent when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the inventive handbag and the insert therefor with the bag flap or cover open.

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1, but with the bag flap or cover closed.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in elevation illustrating the components of the handbag and insert constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the embodiment of the handbag is designated in its entirety by numeral 10. The handbag 10 comprises: a carrying strap 12; a body 14 with a receiving cavity 18 having a bottom 16 and an upwardly facing month; an insert 21); a cover 22, and a pocket 23.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the insert 20 is shown in more detail and withdrawn from the receiving cavity 18. The insert 20 comprises planar member 25 having article retention means thereon and a flap 32. In the preferred embodiment the article retention means includes an identification and badge case 24, a holster 26, an ammunition case 28, and a cuff container 30. The holster is adapted to retain a handgun in upright condition with its grip disposed immediately adjacent the upperedge of the member 25, as illustrated by the phantom line illustration of the handgun in FIG. 3. The circumference of planar member 25 approximates the side dimensions of the receiving cavity 18. The flap 32 has snaps 34 and 35. Snaps 36 and 38 are mounted on the holster 26 and the ammunition case 28, respectively. Snaps 34 and 35 are adapted to be selectively and removably fastened to' the snaps 36 and 38. When the snaps 34 and 35 on the flap 32 are fastened to snaps 36 and 38 (as shown in FIG. 1), articles within the holster 26 and the cuff container 30 are concealed from view. Snaps 40 are located on the insert 20. Snaps 42 are located on the body 14 in the receiving cavity 18. Snaps 40 on the insert 20 are adapted to be fastened to snaps 42 on the body of the handbag 14 when the insert 20 is inside the receiving cavity 18 (as shown in FIG. 1)- When the snaps 40 and 42 are fastened together, the insert is held in an upright condition within the cavity 18 and against sliding or lifting movement relative to the handbag 10. In this condition, the grip of a handgun retained in the holster 26 is disposed closely adjacent the mouth of the cavity for ready access therethrough.

The application of the aforedescribed device will now be described with reference to the aforedescribed embodiment. When the insert 20 is secured within receiving cavity 18 by snaps 40 and 42 and the flap 32 is closed by snaps 34, 35, 36 and 38, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1, the invention is in its normal form. In this form, even though the cover 22 is open, the contents of the various article retention means, 24, 26, 28 and 30 are concealed from view. If it is desired to remove the insert 20, all that is required is that snaps 40 and 42 be released and the insert 20 withdrawn from the recess cavity 18.

At this point it is noted that the carrying strap 12 passes through loops 21 secured to the body 14 and across the bottom 16. Thus, the strap 12 functions to peripherally support the handbag 10 and its contents.

The insert 20 may be readily changed from one handbag to another without removal of the articles themselves. These handbags may differ in color, ornamentation and overall esthetic design. Naturally, all of these bags must be designed to cooperate with the insert 20 in the manner illustrated.

The insert 20 is preferably fabricated of a relatively rigid material, such as leather or plastic. The handbag in its entirety is made of the same material. However, the inventive handbag and insert are not limited to these particular materials, but rather are capable of being made of many diiferent types of material.

It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described, but rather is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A handbag comprising:

(a) a body defining a receiving cavity having a mouth opening thereinto;

(b) an insert adapted to be confined within the cavity,

the insert comprising:

(1) a substantially planar member having upper,

lower and lateral edges;

(2) a holster on the member adapted to releasably retain a handgun thereon in substantially upright condition with the grip of the handgun immediately adjacent the upper edge;

(c) cooperating fastening means on the body and member adapted to selectively secure the member in upright position within the receiving cavity of the body against sliding or lifting movement relative thereto with the upper edge closely adjacent the mouth to locate the grip of a handgun retained in the holster in a position accessible through the mouth.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the interior of the cavity is defined, in part, by at least one substantially planar side wall;

(b) the planar dimensions of the side Wall and the planar member approximately correspond; and

(c) upon securing of the member Within the receiving cavity, the side wall and planar member assume opposed substantially parallel relationship.

3. A device according to claim 2 further including a carrying strap extending longitudinally across the bottom of the body.

4. A device according to claim 1 further including closure means operatively associated with the body and adapted to selectively open and close the mouth.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the insert further includes means operatively associated with the member to conceal a handgun retained by the holster from view independent of the closure means.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the insert further includes means operatively associated with the member to conceal a handgun retained by the holster from view.

7. A device according to claim 6 further including a carrying strap extending longitudinally across the bottom of the body.

8. A device according to claim 6 wherein:

(a) the interior of the cavity is defined, in part, by at least one substantially planar side wall;

(b) the planar dimensions of the side Wall and the planar member approximately correspond; and,

(c) upon securing the member within the receiving cavity, the side Wall and planar member assume opposed substantially parallel relationship.

9. An insert adapted to be positioned Within a handbag comprising:

(a) a substantially planar member having upper, lower and lateral edges;

(b) a holster on the member adapted to releasably retain a handgun thereon in substantially upright condition with the grip of the handgun immediately adjacent the upper edge;

(c) means operatively associated with the member to conceal a handgun retained by the holster from view; and,

(d) fastening means on the member adapted to selectively secure the member within a handbag having a mouth for access to the interior thereof, said means being adapted to secure the member in upright condition to one wall of the handbag against sliding or lifting movement relative thereto with the upper edge closely adjacent the mouth to locate the grip of a handgun retained in the holster in a position accessible through the mouth.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,342 10/1931 Sachs ISO-36 2,432,001 12/1947 Fisler -33 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,245,856 10/ 1960 France. 279,694 11/1930 Italy.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HANDBAG COMPRISING: (A) A BODY DEFINING A RECEIVING CAVITY HAVING A MOUTH OPENING THEREINTO; (B) AN INSERT ADAPTED TO BE CONFINED WITHIN THE CAVITY, THE INSERT COMPRISING: (1) A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR MEMBER HAVING UPPER, LOWER AND LATERAL EDGES; (2) A HOLSTER ON THE MEMBER ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY RETAIN A HANDGUN THEREON IN SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT CONDITION WITH THE GRIP OF THE HANDGUN IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGE; (C) COOPERATING FASTENING MEANS ON THE BODY AND MEMBER ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY SECURE THE MEMBER IN UPRIGHT POSITION WITHIN THE RECEIVING CAVITY OF THE BODY AGAINST SLIDING OR LIFTING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO WITH THE UPPER EDGE CLOSELY ADJACENT THE MOUTH TO LOCATE THE GRIP OF A HANDGUN RETAINED IN THE HOLSTER IN A POSITION ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE MOUTH. 